Omoyele Sowore, founder of Sahara Reporters and former presidential candidate, is under public scrutiny following allegations that he falsified his assets while receiving foreign funding for his media outlet.
In a buildup to the 2023 general elections, Daily Trust reported Sowore’s asset declaration to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in which he stated ownership of a single property valued at ₦5 million and a 2008 Toyota Camry. Given Sowore’s profile and extensive travel history, the declaration raised many eyebrows.
Questions about the credibility of his disclosure recently gained traction after investigative journalist David Hundeyin published a viral thread on social media platform X, alleging that Sowore’s U.S.-based media platform, Sahara Reporters, received foreign funding, particularly from U.S. institutions and foundations, which could mean that Sowore’s personal and professional interests may be more than his declared assets.
Sowore’s failure to disclose ownership stakes, financial interests, or material support from foreign donors, especially those linked to U.S. government interests, raises ethical questions about transparency.
The same man who declared ₦5 million in assets runs a U.S.-funded media organisation and easily flies in and out of the country. Something doesn’t add up.”
Sahara Reporters, founded in 2006, has long praised itself as a watchdog platform exposing corruption and abuse in Nigeria. However, critics have pointed out that its operations were initially supported by grants from entities such as the Ford Foundation and the Omidyar Network, which raised concerns about foreign influence in domestic political narratives.
Sowore, who has consistently portrayed himself as an anti-corruption fanatic, has yet to issue a detailed public response to the allegations of asset misrepresentation or clarify the extent of foreign financial involvement in his work.
As public trust in politicians remains fragile, Sowore’s next move could determine whether his reputation as an “activist” endures or erodes under the weight of unanswered questions.
